You already know how it will turn out if you endure, that's a dead-end road and you already know that. Try a different approach when telling your husband you need him to back off a bit. Let him know it's much easier for you to "miss him" and "want him" when he gives you the space to do so. You might try telling him to just try going 1 or 2 days without doing whatever behavior it is that annoys you...so you can show him that you don't forget about him if he doesn't do those things as much.
This can be done in a kind gentle manner...do it in a manner that says "hey honey! I want to prove something about myself to you...give me the opportunity to show you I mean what I'm saying." and then back it up.
I'm kind of battling with an annoying behavior of my H's as well....he has a horrible habit of constantly tickling me when he gets close to me...doesn't matter if it's a hug, a rub on my side with his hands....whatever, if his hands go anywhere near my sides I get this annoying poke with his fingers! I am not the friggin Pillsbury Doughboy! I've told him now (because I've told him gently etc) that everytime he does that to me now...I'm going to thump him on the forehead! LOL Right between the eyes LOL. Bet he stops tickling me (which I HATE) after 20-30 of those LOL.
